Northern art charity to close

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, July 16, 2026

Northern England’s New Light Art charity will close after failing to obtain continued funding from Arts Council England. The closure ends a decade-long effort to promote northern artists through exhibitions, education programs, and art placements, highlighting persistent financial challenges in regional arts support.

A northern England-based charity dedicated to promoting contemporary art announced it will be closing after failing to secure funding from Arts Council England. New Light Art, established in 2010 by Annette Petchey, aimed to spotlight the region’s artistic talent at a time when the UK art scene was predominantly focused on London.

The charity was well known for its New Light Art Prize, which invited artists connected to the north of England to submit works for a touring exhibition. This initiative provided emerging and established artists with opportunities to display their art in prominent UK galleries. New Light’s touring exhibitions reached audiences totaling over 67,000 across multiple counties and venues, including The Bowes Museum in County Durham and The Biscuit Factory in Newcastle.

In addition to exhibitions, New Light delivered a successful education programme called Art for All. This initiative featured artist-led talks, workshops, demonstrations, and immersive courses, engaging schools, charities, and the public throughout the region. The charity also maintained the New Light Collection, which placed artworks by notable figures such as Norman Ackroyd RA, Anne Desmet RA, Mark Demsteader, Jo Taylor, and Tom Wood in hospitals and charitable organisations, further expanding access to contemporary art beyond traditional gallery spaces.

In 2025, New Light introduced the Summer Exhibition of the North at Sunny Bank Mills in Farsley, supported by long-term sponsor McInroy & Wood. This event marked a departure from conventional gallery settings, showcasing sculpture, textiles, and wall-hung art in a converted textile mill, creating a distinctive platform for northern artists.

Rebekah Tadd, CEO of New Light, expressed pride in the charity’s achievements since its inception. She highlighted partnerships with curators, judges, sponsors, and patrons such as Valeria Sykes as key to the charity’s success. Tadd noted that the New Light Prize had helped emerging northern artists gain wider recognition and new audiences, while established artists benefited from increased exposure and sales.

Despite the charity’s small size, its impact on elevating northern contemporary art over the past decade was significant. The decision to close marks the end of a notable chapter in the regional art landscape, underscoring ongoing challenges in securing sustainable funding within the arts sector.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.